Folding pocket hat holder



Aug. 1, 1961 E. s. NYlTRAl 2,994,437

FOLDING POCKET HAT HOLDER Filed July 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 /I 30 l25 INVENTOR dim-[5.

l ,3! 0 2 K y fi g ATTORNEYS E. S. NYlTRAl FOLDING POCKET HAT HOLDERAug. 1, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1959 INVENTOR 2,994,437FOLDING POCKET HAT HOLDER Ernest S. Nyitrai, 127 Lockwood Ave.,Stamford, Conn. Filed July 22, 1959, Ser. No. 828,769 2 Claims. (Cl.211-30) This invention relates to supports, and particularly to aportable hat holder which is collapsible into a small, compact,pocket-size unit that may be conveniently carried about by a user whennot in use, as by being inserted in a pocket.

There are many activities, particularly public and semipublic assembliessuch as meetings in churches, auditoriums, theaters and the like,wherein a person requires the free use of his hands in order to properlyparticipate. Such activities are normally held in places to which a wellgroomed man is likely to have worn his hat. Unless there is asubstantial hat-checking or hat storing facility provided, and in theactivities here involved there normally is not, a man normally mustresort to holding his hat on his lap, or placing it alongside of him onthe seat, pew or bench. The deficiency of this latter technique is wellknown, as the many soiled and squashed hats which are knocked to thefloor or sat upon will attest.

It is extremely desirable, and it is an object of this invention, thatan inexpensive collapsible hat support be provided which is a small andcompact unit when collapsed so as to be capable of being carried in apocket of the users clothes, such as the breast pocket of a suit coat,and wherein when extended into operative condition it is capable offunctioning as a hat holder which may be propped up against an adjacentseat, pew or bench and eifectively support a hat oif of the floor duringactivities wherein the user needs the use of his hands.

The object of the invention is accomplished in one form by providing ahat support which is made of inexpensive, light-weight materials andwhich is collapsible into a small, compact, pocket-size unit.

The above and other objects and further details of that which I believeto be novel and my invention will be clear from the followingdescription and claims taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing one embodiment of theinvention in operative condition for supporting a hat;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of said embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof and showing a hat supportedthereby;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof when collapsed;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view thereof when collapsed;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof when collapsed;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of theinvention in operative condition;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view thereof when collapsed;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view thereof when collapsed;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view thereof when collapsed;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of theinvention in operative condition;

FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view thereof when collapsed;

FIG. 14 is a rear elevational view of a portion of another embodiment ofthe invention in operative condition;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a modified base portion;

FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Patented Aug. 1, 1961 FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of anothermodified base portion in collapsed condition;

FIG. 18 is a front elevational view thereof in extended condition, and

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of still another modified baseportion in collapsed condition.

In the drawings there are illustrated a number of different physicalembodiments of the invention. All of the illustrated embodiments arepredicated on the same inventive concept of providing an inexpensive,light weight holder for a hat, which is collapsible into a small,compact, pocket-size unit when not in operative condition for supportinga hat. All of the illustrated embodiments when in operative conditionare capable of effectively supporting a hat above the floor by grippingit and by being propped up against a nearby object. In the latterconnection, all of the illustrated embodiments include afloor-contacting base portion for facilitating propping of the support,and all of the illustrated base portions except one (that illustrated inFIGS. 15 and 16) are collapsible. All of the illustrated embodiments ofthe invention may be made almost entirely of an inexpensive light weightmaterial, such as any of the available suitable plastic materials ormetals, for example, aluminum alloys.

All of the illustrated embodiments of the invention comprise aninexpensive, light-weight, portable hat holder which is collapsible intoa small, compact, pocket-size unit. All of the illustrated embodimentscomprise three essential portions: (1) a floor-contacting base portionfor supporting the remainder of the hat holder; (2) a hat-gripping andsupporting portion which is spaced from the base portion, and (3) aselectively contractable and extendable intermediate portion whichconnects the base portion and the hat-gripping and supporting portion.

In FIGS. 1-6, there is illustrated one embodiment of the invention. Thehat holder is general-1y designated by reference numeral 10 andcomprises a base portion 12, a hat-gripping and supporting portion 14-,and an intermediate portion 16.

The intermediate portion 16 comprises a plurality of elongatedtelescoping members. In FIGS. 1-6, the telescoping members are four innumber, however, the precise number may be Varied, if desired. The threelower telescoping members are designated by reference numeral 18, andthe upper telescoping member by reference numeral 20. The members 18 arehollow, and generally rectangular in cross section, whereas. the uppermember 20 may be solid. The upper ends 22 of each of the members 18 arebent inwardly at 22, and the lower ends 24- of the two upper members 1 8are bent outwardly so as to effect telescoping. The lower end of member20 has a radially outwardly extending flange 26 formed thereon whichcooperates with the upper end 22 of the uppermost member 18 to effecttelescoping. The fit of the members 18 and 2(1 is such that there isfrictional engagement between the members which may be selectivelymanually overcome, but the members are frictionally held in whatevercondition of contracting or extending that the portion 16 is selectivelyadjusted to. Therefore, the intermediate portion 16 comprises alongitudinally contractable and extendable, connecting portion betweenthe base portion 12 and the hat-gripping and supporting portion 14.

The base portion 12 comprises a pair of flexible, channel-shaped feet 28that are individually pivotally connected to the lower end 30 of thelowermost member 18 at one of their respective ends by a pair ofadjustable tension screws 32. As can best be'observed by comparison ofFIGS. 2 and 5, the base portion 12 is selectively manually adjustable bypivoting the feet 28 between an operative condition shown in FIG. 2wherein it is extended and providm a horizontally extending,floor-contacting means for supporting the entire hat-holder, and acollapsed carrying or storing condition illustrated in FIG. 5 whereinthe feet 28 closely embrace the lower member 18 and are generallyparallel thereto. The ends of the feet 28 which are pivotally connectedto the lowermost member 18 have frictional contact with the said section18 which may be selectively adjusted by screws 32, and are structurallyrelated thereto so as to be selectively manually adjusted to either theFIG. 2 or FIG. 5 condition and to remain in such condition thereafter.

The hat-gripping and supporting portion 14 comprises a small spring clip34 which is operatively mounted on the upper end 36 of the member 20.The spring clip 34 may be made of a springy metal and is pivotallymounted on said upper end as by being mounted on a hinge pin 38 that issupported in hinge ears 46 that are secured to said upper end. Springclip 34 has a torsion spring 42 associated therewith so as to normallybias the bent end 44 of the spring clip into firm contact with the upperend 36 of the member 20. The specific type and mounting of the springclip 34 is not critical, however, it is extremely important that it bemounted in a proper manner so as to have its bent end 44 biased againstthe member 2%), and that it be a small member which does not extend orproject to any appreciable extent. The latter attribute is desirable tofacilitate the ability of the hat holder to form a small, compact,pocket-size unit when it is collapsed. In this regard, as can best beseen in FIG. 2, each of the members 18 includes an upper, cut-out notch46 which functions to accommodate the spring clip 34- when the hatholder is collapsed, as can best be seen in FIG. 5.

In use, the hat holder is selectively manually adjusted to either itsoperative FIG. 2 condition or its collapsed FIG. 5 condition. When inits FIG. 5 condition it forms a small, compact unit which mayconveniently be carried by a person by being slipped into the breastpocket of a suit coat. In practice, the major length of the hat holderwhen collapsed as shown in FIG. 5 should not exceed approximately seveninches, the width should be approximately one and one-half inch, and thethickness approximately one-half inch. Therefore, the collapsed hatholder is small and compact and may be carried about in a persons pocketwhen not in use. At the time when a person reaches a building and it isdesired to temporarily support his hat, the collapsed hat holder iswithdrawn from the persons pocket, the intermediate portion 16 isextended to its FIG. 2 operative condition, and the base portion 12 isextended by pivoting the feet 28 to its FIG. 2 condition. In practice,the major length of the hat holder may conveniently be approximatelytwenty-two inches when it is in operative condition. As can best be seenin FIG. 3, a hat H may then be supported by the hat holder by forcingthe spring clip end 44 away from the member 20 and slipping the hat brimHB therebetween. In performing this manipulation,,the end 48 of thespring clip 34 may be conveniently used as a finger grip to overcome thebias of the torsion spring 42. When the hat is gripped and supported asillustrated in FIG. 3, the hat holder may be propped against an adjacentobject, such as the church pew P illustrated in FIG. 1. The mostsuitable propping angle to be utilized may be determined by the user,and in the case of a church setting wherein kneeling benches areprovided, the base portion 12 may be propped, against the kneeling benchB to facilitate propping. With his hat supported in the foregoing mannerby the hat holder 10, a person is free to participate in the activitiesof the assemblage for his hands are fully free. After the activitiesterminate, the hat H is removed from the hat holder, the latter iscollapsed by contracting the intermediate portion 16 and folding thepivotally mounted feet 28 into their-FIG. 5 condition, and the collapsedhat holder is inserted in the pocket of the user, who is then free toplace his hat upon his head and leave the building.

In FIGS. 7l0 there is illustrated another embodiment of the inventionwhich is generally similar to the first embodiment described, whereincorresponding parts of these embodiments are indicated by like referencenumerals with a prime added. The principal difference between theseembodiments is that in the FIGS. 7-10 embodiment, the members whichcomprise the intermediate portion 16' have a generally circular crosssection and the feet 28' comprise solid circular rods that are pivotallysecured to the lower end 30 of the lowermost member 18. The pivotalconnection between the feet 28 and lowermost member 18 may be efiectedby forming oppositely extending, apertured tabs 50 at the lower end 30'and a pair of flexible apertured ears 52 on each of the feet 28, andhingedly securing these parts so as to be frictionally related, as byutilizing adjustable tension screws 54. The operation of this FIGS. 7-10embodiment is generally the same as that of the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment.

In FIGS. l1-13 there is illustrated another embodiment of the invention,wherein the hat holder 60 comprises a base portion 62, and intermediateportion 64, and a hat gripping and supporting portion 66, all of whichgenerally correspond in function to their corresponding portions in thefirst embodiments described. However, there are structural differencesin the base portions and intermediate portions.

The intermediate portion 64 comprises a plurality of members, four innumber as illustrated, which are designated by reference numerals 68,70, 72 and 74. These members are pivotally connected to each other byappropriate hinges '76, 78 and 80 so as to enable the intermediateportion to be folded up into a small compact unit, as illustrated inFIG. 13. It should be particularly observed that the upper member '74carries a hat gripping and supporting portion 66 which may be identicalin construction to its counterpart in the first two embodimentsdescribed. The member 72 has an elongated recess 82 formed therein onits rear side into which the member 74 may be folded and nested when theintermediate portion 64 is contracted. The lowermost member 68 isreduced over most of its longitudinal extend other than for its uppertapered portion 84. The lower end 86 of the member 63 has a pair ofoppositely extending apertured tabs 88 formed thereon to which the feet90 are pivotally connected, as by having a pair of apertured ears 92which are formed on each of the feet individually connected to the tabs88 by adjustable tension screws 94. The free ends of the feet Q0 areinclined at 96, and the feet and member 68 are configured anddimensioned in such a manner that the feet nest up against the taperedportion 84 of the'member 68 when the hat holder is collapsed. Thegeneral operation and function ing of the FIGS. 11-16 embodiment is thesame as the other embodiment described.

In FIG. 14 there is illustrated a portion of another embodiment of theinvention, which essentially comprises the FIGS. 11-13 embodimentmodified in a manner so as to render the uppermost member of theintermediate portion telescopically related to its adjacent member. InFIG. 14, corresponding parts to those of the FIGS. 1l-l3 embodiment aredesignated by the same reference numerals with a prime added. Theuppermost member of the intermediate portion shown in FIG. 14 isdesignated by reference numeral and its adjacent member by referencenumeral 102. The member 100 has a pair of opposite side guide portions104 which are received in a guideway 1% formed in the rear side ofmember 102 to render these parts telescopic.

In FIGS. 15-19 there are illustrated a number of modifications of baseportions which may be used with one or more of the various hat holderembodiments described. In FIGS. 15 and 16 there is illustrated a baseportion 110 which is not collapsible, and which comprises a solidformation which may be integral with the lowermost member of theintermediate portion of whichever embodiment it is utilized with. Thebase portion 110 comprises a pair of oppositely extending fin-like feet112 having rounded edges throughout so as to be smooth. The base portion110 may be conveniently made to be approximately three and three-quarterinches wide and three-sixteenths of an inch thick. Although the baseportion 110 is not collapsible, it is small enough to be inserted in apocket of a users clothes when a hat holder into which it isincorporated is collapsed.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 there is illustrated a base portion 114 which isparticularly well suited for use with the FIGS. l-6 embodiment of hatholder, wherein a pair of flexible channel-shaped feet 116 are hingedlymounted at their upper ends, as by adjustable tension screws 118, to thelowermost member 120 of the intermediate portion of a hat holder. InFIG. 17 the base portion 114 is shown in collapsed condition with thefeet frictionally held on the member 120, and in FIG. 18 the baseportion 114 is shown in extended position with the feet 116 frictionallyheld in position wherein their free ends 122 are spread apart andlocated for contacting a floor surface and supporting the hat holder.

In FIG. 19 there is illustrated a base portion 124 which is particularlywell suited for use with the FIGS. 7-10 embodiment of bat holder,wherein a pair of feet 126 in the form of bent rods are pivotallyconnected near their upper ends to a hinge bracket 128 that, in turn, isrigidly fixed to the lowermost member 130 of the intermediate portion ofa hat holder. The configuration and pivotal mounting of the feet 126 issuch that the feet may be pivoted between positions wherein they embracethe member 130, and the base portion 124 is thereby collapsed, andwherein they are spread apart and are located for contacting a floorsurface to support the hat holder, as shown in dotted lines.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of myinvention are not limited to the particular details of construction ofthe examples illustrated, and I contemplate that various and othermodifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art.It is, therefore, my intention that the appended claims shall cover suchmodifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit andscope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A hat holder which is collapsible to pocket size for carrying by aperson in a pocket of his clothing and extensible to operative conditionat the point of use wherein it is adapted to be supported in avertically inclined position with its lower end arranged to contact asupporting surface and its upper end arranged to contact a wall againstwhich the hat holder is propped comprising: a collapsible base portionadapted to rest on a supporting surface and support the remainder of thehat holder; a hat gripping and supporting portion comprising a resilientclip arranged to grip a hat brim and suspend a hat therefrom adapted tobe spaced from said base portion and disposed above the supportingsurface in engagement with a wall whereby said portions constitute ameans for supporting the hat holder in a vertically inclined position;and a selectively extensible and contractible intermediate portionconnecting said first two portions, said intermediate portionfunctioning when extended to space said h-at gripping and supportingportion from said base portion and when contracted to collapse said hatholder to pocket size; said intermediate portion comprising a pluralityof elongated telescoping members, said hat gripping and supportingportion being carried by the central one of said elongated telescopingmembers, and the other elongated telescoping members having cut-outportions for accommodating said hat gripping and supporting portion whenall of said elongated telescoping members are telescoped and saidintermediate portion is contracted.

2. A hat holder which is collapsible to pocket size for carrying by aperson in a pocket of his clothing and extensible to operative conditionat the point of use wherein it is adapted to be supported in avertically inclined position with its lower end arranged to contact asupporting surface and its upper end arranged to contact a wall againstwhich the hat holder is propped comprising: a collapsible base portionadapted to rest on a supporting surface and support the remainder of thehat holder; a hat gripping and supporting portion comprising a resilientclip arranged to grip a hat brim and suspend a hat therefrom adapted tobe spaced from said base portion and disposed above the supportingsurface in engagement with a wall whereby said portions constitute ameans for supporting the hat holder in a vertically inclined position;and a selectively extensible and contractible intermediate portionconnecting said first two portions, said intermediate portionfunctioning when extended to space said hat gripping and supportingportion from said base portion and when contracted to collapse said hatholder to pocket size; and said collapsible base portion comprises aplurality of elongated feet that are pivotally secured at one of theirends to said intermediate portion, and said feet are channel-shaped incross section and dimensionally related to said intermediate portion soas to receive and accommodate parts of said intermediate portion innesting relationsbip when said base portion is collapsed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS406,196 Clayton July 2, 1889 621,911 Farwell Mar. 28, 1899 1,176,563Johnson Mar. 21, 1916 1,416,896 Simmons May 23, 1922 1,746,486 MartinFeb. 11, 1930 1,746,487 Martin Feb. 11, 1930 1,751,198 Franck Mar. 18,1930 2,283,324 Faber May 19, 1942 2,378,984 Couture June 26, 19452,439,049 Lesko Apr. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 424,437 Great Britain Feb.21, 1935

